Eben Enasco Reporting.
Elders of the Oke-Oroma Community in Edo State, have raised concerns over alleged attempts by certain elements within the Edo State Geographic Information Service, Edo-GIS to revive the outlawed Coral City template, a project initiated by former Governor Godwin Obaseki’s administration.
They claimed that this clandestine move by these elements in EDOGIS is aimed at undermining and frustrating the progress made in affirming and redeeming his earlier solemn promises to the people.
In a press statement jointly signed by the Head of the Community, Gaius Emokpae and the Secretary, Monday Omorogiuwa and made available to the newsmen yesterday, disclosed that, Governor Monday Okpebholo has been working round the clock to address the issues surrounding the Oke-Oroma land disputed area, but faced with these elements who are hiding under government to escalate tension.
They revealed that, in continuation of the former governor Obaseki’s manipulative tendencies, these elements have also reportedly established another new company named EDO NEW TOWNS DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD to replace the CORAL CITY with the directors purely their political associates, Blood relatives and friends.
The gang up according to Emokpae, is between Obaseki’s loyalists and these elements in EDOGIS who are attempting to silence Governor Okpebholo’s decision on the issue.
While lamenting their moves, he emphasized that despite the Governor’s clear statement on revoking the Coral City to allow the owners go back to their land, the bank account used for the operations of the Coral City is still functional where some financial transactions were recently carried out between some people invited to purchase some piece of plots and EDO-GIS Officials.
Despite existing as an ancestral home date back 15th century ago, Oke Oroma Community had been immersed in communal boundary dispute with neighbouring villages including Amagba, Obazagbon villages in Oredo Local Government, and Obagie N vbuosa in Ikpoa Okha Local Government Area since June 2012, four months after the death of Pa Joseph Emokpae, the last Odionwere of the community.
Since then, not less than 25 people have been killed with property worth billions of Naira by the former governor Obaseki’s backed loyalists and land grabbers across the neighboring communities.
The elders are urging authorities to take necessary steps to prevent any further escalation of the situation and ensure the continued peace and stability of the community.